Bhagwan Das : A True Ambedkarite: Interview: Bhagwan Das on Dalit Religious Traditions and the Hindutva Challenge

Bhagwan Das : A True Ambedkarite: Interview: Bhagwan Das on Dalit Religious Traditions and the Hindutva Challenge

Dogra Rattan Babu Parmanand’s Life and vision of Mass Empowerment

Babu Ji was born on 10^th august 1932, to late Sh. Jaggu Ram & Smt Matyan Devi; both of whom were deeply religious souls, having deep faith in Sant Mat as expounded by Saints of Radha Soami Satsang Beas .Village Sarore is largely in-habited by the followers of Radha Soami Satsang, following strict norms of Sant Mat. This village like any other rural villages has earned distinction to be the birth place of Baba Sant Rasila Ram Ji the present Head of Baba Teja Singh Radha Soami Ashram Saidpur Distt Amritsar (Punjab) Babu Ji was brought up in an atmosphere full of spirituality, so he followed and practised principle of "Love all, hate none". Babu Ji from his early school days was hard - working, punctual, brilliant but poised boy. He had to travel a distance of over 4 miles to go to his school bare-footed. But poverty and vagaries of weather could not deter him from his determination to get educated. During those days education was rare, particularly for rural Dalits, as only a few lucky were privileged to go to schools, schools being only a few in number.  His will to succeed brought laurel when he passed his M.A. LL.B degrees with flying colures.  Parmanand was perhaps, one of  the first Dalits from J&K state to acquire such higher qualifications before 1958. He also appeared in the State Civil Services Examination1960, earning 9^th position. During his student life, he was taking active part in politics particularly as a student leader. He was always ready to help and guide the needy students. His efforts earned scholarships to many students from his area & community and a hostel wing was added to GGM Sc. College Jammu Hostel exclusively for the Dalit students. He was inclined from the very beginning to politics. His strong will to become a public representative, won him his maiden elections from Ramgarh (reserved) constituency in 1962, general election. This was his first leap towards his chosen goal. He continued to win elections till 1990. He had the proud privilege to serve as Minister for various departments including transport, Local Bodies and Local Self Government, Housing, Power and Finance. Babu Ji Served as Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly when internationally  known Sher-e Kashmir sheikh Mohd. Abdulla was the Chief Minister. Due his  qualities of head and heart Babu Ji was appointed as Governor and he took the oath for the same    on 19^th July 2000 in the Haryana Raj Bhawan Chandigarh

   on 6^th May 1962 Babu ji got married to  Sudesh Kumari, daughter of Lala Munshi Ram of Jalandhar town of Punjab Lala Munshiram was a well to do sports businessman, who had migrated from Sailkot (Now  in Pakistan ) to India during 1947 turmoil. Babu Ji was blessed with two equally brilliant sons.

 Babu Ji served on different political and social organizations viz. Organizer Depressed Classes league, Founding President of J&K unit of Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi, Indian National Congress, the National Conference and Bhartiya Janta Party etc. He served as director to various banks. He had close contacts with Babu Jagjivan Ram, Sher-e Kashmir sheikh Mohd. Abdulla, Dr K.R. Narayan and Giani zail Singh  both Presidents of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, General K.V. Krishna Rao ( Retd) ,G.C. Sexsena, Dr. Farooq Abdulla Dr. Karan Singh and a host of other Indian leaders, administrators, jurists, religious heads of different religions etc.

       Babu Ji started fortnightly news paper “The Voice of the Depressed”. He wrote editorials which were acclaimed as best of his times. While launching the voice of the Depressed Babu Ji wrote “The voice of the Depressed will give coverage to programmes and schemes floated for the benefit of people living below poverty line, welfare of Sc’s/ST’s, OBC, small farmers, village artisans, landless, shelter less, unemployed, and living in bad pockets. It shall work as watch dog to proper and full utilization of funds earmarked for poverty alleviation, provision of employment and failures of administration. The paper shall try to provide feed up of ground work and ground realities so that the authorities can take cognizance and apply corrective measures”.

 Only three points  will do:-

 While writing in The Voice of the Depressed dated December15th, 1997, he elaborately dealt with the developmental activities being carried on in India. He mentioned about the various development programmers being carried by the Governmental agencies for the intended benefits of the deprived and neglected section of the Indian Society. Starting with the launching of Community Development Programme (CDP) on 2^nd October,1952 the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Babu Ji counted almost all welfare programs launched till 1997. He narrated that Indra Gandhi launched twenty Point Programme to remove poverty and improve the economic lot of the common man. Indra Awas Yoj( IAY) in1983 and Jawahar Rozgar Yojna ( JRY) with great fanfare. This was followed by Fifteen Point Programme welfare of the minorities formulated in May1983 and launched subsequently by Rajiv Gandhi and V.P Singh. Then P.V. Narsimha Rao launched from Red Fort Social Security Schemes and Mid day Meals. When H.D. Devgwda held the Government of India reigns, he decided to implement Common minimum Programme consisting of 11 Points. He also announced provision of the rations at half the rates to the families living below the poverty line. Babu Ji further counted  other programmes launched like Panchayati Raj Institutions, Hill Area Development Programme, Small  farmers Development agency, Marginal Farmers and Agriculture Labourers Programme, Draught Prone area Programme,Deseret Development Programme, Applied Nutrition Programme, Land Reforms , Tribal Area Development Programme, Pilot Intensive Rural Employment ProjectIntegrated Rural Development Programme, National Ex. Rural Employment Programme, Training for Self Employment Of Rural Youth, Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas, National Social Assistance Programme, Intensive Jawahar Rozgar Yojna, Million Well Scheme, Integrated Waste Land Development Project, Employment Gaurantee Scheme, Revamped Public Distribution System.

While commenting on the achievement of the set goals through these various programmes, Babu Ji  expressed” But unfortunately all these programmes and schemes have failed to remove poverty, illiteracy,unemployment,hungerand disease, and the general view is that about 70 crores of the Indians are still suffering from economic slavery and are denied proper education, proper food and clothing and reasonable shelter.-------------------- none of the twenty points, fifteen points, eleven points Programmes have removed the poverty and the common man is not in a position to get even basic amenities of life much less true independence from hunger, shelter and  unemployment.”. Babu Ji continued to further write in his paper “ The funds allocated for these programmes and schemes are misused for want of impartial identification of the real beneficiaries at the village level and major part of the these allotments is shared by various agencies connected with the preparation and implementation of these programmes and schemes. Only 20% money has reached the real beneficiaries and the rest is pocketed by the government machinery, banks/financial institutions and contractors/ favorites of the political bosses in power”. Babu Ji in his write up gave thought to the causes of failure of these programmes and schemes. The multiplicity of schemes by creating various layers of execution often complicates the execution by making the system cumbersome. The same invariably creates problems during the execution of schemes. The number of such schemes being directly supervised or implemented through the office of the District Magistrate (DM) or the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) wherein DM has significant role in ensuring proper implementation of these schemes is endless.  This single handed supervision it self over loads the DM’s work load. The DM’s remain involved in the law and order problems and host of other functions assigned to them, so the implementation of  welfare and development  schemes suffer.
 He wrote in detail in the same columns “ The lack of seriousness by political leaders and bureaucrats charged with the implementation of these programmes and schemes shows that these were meant only to boost the image of the men in authority rather than bettering the lot of the deprived, exploited and unprivileged  population of India.. The talk of removing poverty through these points and growth rate has failed to rid the vast majority from hunger, disease, unemployment and poverty. He said. if it has not happened in fifty years, another fifty years may not  also solve these problems. It is a common knowledge that Judging the futility of slogans raised and promised made during the launch of every new Programme and scheme, which ultimately failed to achieve the desired goals, he clearly mentioned only three points Programmes and gave the key to achieve the welfare goals for the deprived, neglected, diseased, illiterate, poverty ridden Indian population from the mess. He suggested these three points as

1)    Education to all by the end of this century (which has already lapsed) with one syllabus for all irrespective of caste, creed or religion and one rate of school fees for both public and private schools. 

2)     Land and House to the landless in rural areas.

3)    Job to jobless            

  Babu Parmanand Ji also gave some guide lines for the success of these points stressing the need to show professionalism by  persons and agencies engaged in implementation of schemes and programmes in dealing with the problems of the masses which is ultimate problem of  prosperity and wellbeing of India. He advises to the politicians and officers to be true to the salt and prove by actions true to the sacred oath to work for the wellbeing of all irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion, region of the beneficiaries. Babu Ji   further wrote in his article “The poor man has survived  by dint of his  physical labour and if he is equipped with knowledge and means, he will improve his condition on his own. Merit is no body’s monopoly and if equal opportunities of education are provided to all, every body shall know his merit. He continued and wrote saying if a student of Jehanabad District in Bihar and Kalhandi Distt in Orissa ( Condition of Jammu and Kashmir Rural area schools is no better) to compete with a student of Covent School in Delhi or Bombay( Mumbai) is a shear mockery and joke with the poor man apart from being inhuman and tyrant “. Babu Parmanand wrote that to ensure the dignity of an individual in a caste ridden society of rural India is a moot point. He suggested that to achieve the dignified life style of an Indian in the rural area, he needs to be given a minimum quantum of land depending upon the fertility of land in each state. This should be done through legislation or budgetary provisions for the purchase of the land or persuasion of landlords. If not done at the earliest, nation should be prepared to hear more tragedies like Jehanabad in Bihar. One cannot absolve always under the cover of conspiracy. Babu Parmanand wrote that the main hurdles in attainment of dignity and prosperity to lacs of Indian poor are:

1.      Lack of education

2.       Lack of means of production ( and land is the mainstay in rural India).

3.       Lack of Job.

 While winding up the article dated December15th, 1997, Babu Ji wrote “Unless and until, a family is recognized as a unit of development in India, it will be impossible to increase  his income and make him self reliant and truly independent”.

     The above said commentary of Babu Parmanand on the half hearted efforts initiated for the poverty elimination can neither succeed nor have so far succeeded as the required will, sincerity, commitment and professionalism of executors is lacking. One can refer to the warning given by Dr Ambedkar while winding up debate on adopting of the Indian Constitution. He has said that the quality of the Constitution of a country is governed by the quality and commitments of those who are to get it implemented. If the persons turn out be good even a bad constitution shall prove good and if the quality of the persons (politicians, administrators, policy planners included) happens to be bad even a very good constitution shall turn out to be bad. In India administration is manned by majority persons who are more committed to their respective  projected religions than to the country. They are pro status quo which goes against the spirit of Democratic governance. The sooner we change this mind set the better it shall for the bright future of India. Mahatma Gandhi has said “India lives in Villages” realizing that villages are mine houses for supply of cheap laborers and workers necessary for prosperous future of India. But his Political descendents under the intoxication of political power visited village folks during elections only to seek their vote blessings and to forget them there after till next elections. Even communists and other political parties under the control of vested interests including money minded upper castes did only lip service to the poor and downtrodden. Dr Ambedkar realized Indian Labour potentialities and so said in December, 1942 while writing his broadcast speech for AIR Bombay “The country needs a lead and the question is who can give this lead. I venture to say that labourer is capable of giving to the country lead it needs-----“.( Dr Ambedkar writings and speeches vol 10, jacket writing)

Babu Ji left his mortal frame after a year long ailing on 24 ^th April 2008 leaving behind in tears his lacs of workers, sympathizers, two equally brilliant sons, four grand children and his wife. The best tributes to Babu Parmanand a Dogra Rattan is to continue his crusade against the exploitation and deprivation of the poor and downtrodden millions of this great country by providing them equal opportunities and not alms of mercy. Treat them as equal citizens which are possible only by getting implemented with open fair mind all welfare rules and schemes framed for them.

 This author  had association with Babu Parmanand for five decades.

Dated 14-09-2014          Words:-2330

                                                                          Er. H.R.Phonsa 

The Historic Prospective of Reservation

The Historic Prospective of Reservation

Historical Background of reservation; - -

          With the codification of Hindu Laws in The Manusmiriti centuries ago, web of 100% Reservation of dignified jobs for the Upper castes and undignified jobs for the Shudras was created. Manu said, the Illustrious one (Lord Brahama) assigned innate activities for those born out of his Mouth (Priest), Arms (Kshtriya), Thighs (Vaishya) and Feet (Shudra). Duties assigned for priest viz. Brahmin , he ordained teaching, and learning, sacrificing for them selves and sacrificing for others( 1-88), for Kshtriya  protecting his subjects, giving, having sacrifices performed studying and remaining un- addicted to sensory  objects ( 1-89 ), for (Vaishya) protecting his livestock, giving, having sacrifices performed studying , trading, lending money and forming for commoners or Vaishya (1-90 ), the lord assigned only one  activity to a servant “Shudra” serving these ( others ) classes with out resentment( 1-91 ) The myth we are carrying for centuries is a big lie as mouth, arms thighs and arms cannot act as orifices for birth . This practice continued denying Shudras all facilities of leading decent life, sealing all human rights for them. Education the root of progress was banned for the untouchables   ( hereafter referred as Dalits ). It seamed that the  Caste  Hindus banned the jurisdiction of their goddesses Sarasvati ( Wisdom), Laxmi ( Money power) and Shakti ( Physical power) over the Dalit else they get polluted. This proved a  potent means for  social control and the reason to  ban traditional  Indian  education to  Dalits. From time to time conserted  efforts were made by  some good hearted persons. The efforts of social reformers like Lord Budha, Lord Mahaveera, Soami Dayanamda Saraswati, Raja Ram Mohan Rai , Swami Vivekananda,  Mahatama Jyotiba  Phuley, Gurus , Peers Bhagats of Bhakti  Movement, had very limited or no effect on the orthodox Hindus and Shudras continued leading life worst than animals. Such humanist acts were suppressed by all means and many reformists were even done to death.  Faithful execution of their duties brought more miseries to shudras. There by  they continued  to suffer for centuries under religious  prejudices.

 The Dalit emancipation from the Caste Hindu religious chains were not possible with out education to them. India remained mute and dumb to the  changes taking place else where in the world. In a survey in Madras Presidency between 1835-25 there were 12,498 schools  with 188,000 pupils but none from Dalits.The Sanskrit and Telgu were the medium of instructions  with teachers from Brahmins imparting  education mostly from their  religious books. Dalits were even left out of censes counts as no body was ready to go to their hutments  for fears of pollutions.

 With coming of Christen missionaries and establishment of  Church branches in different parts of India education for all started taking roots. Act of 1813 granted permissions to missionaries to start imparting education in the East India Co territories. In 1837 English was made official language of administration and opened subordinate services for Indian natives. On May 5, 1854 government lifted ban on admission to Government run schools on the basis of caste. When Caste Hindu resisted admission of Dalit in schools where their wards were studying, government open separate schools to education Dalits. Since then all teachers were Brahmins, they started leaving these separate schools. Despite such hurdles some Dalits got educated in schools particularly in missionary schools. Such Dalits who got education rose to the occasion  to help their Dalit brethren. Mahatam Jyotiba Phuley (1827-1890),who got education in Missionary school Pune, opened first ever  girls  school in 1948 in Pune followed by more such schools, where admission was open to all categories of pupils. His wife Mata Savitribai Phuley (1831-1897) home taught  , served as teacher. She was “ Mother Of Women Education in India, besides being  First Woman Teacher in India.”

Dalit emancipation movements( 1990-1947)

 Except some individual efforts not much was done  to educate Dalits till 1917 One among these noble heated King from OBC( Teli caste) Chhatrapati  Sahu Ji Maharaj( 1874-1922) earned the distinction of Dalit Reservation Hero, when he ordered by a Royal order to grant 50% Reservation for OBC in all government services. This was resisted by Bahrmins and other higher castes but Maharaja did not relent and this order was implemented to the extent possible Another OBC Raja of Pangal(1866-1928),who was Chief Minister and Premier of Madras Presidency from July 1921 to Dec 1926 ordered reservation in services for OBC. He was leader of  Justice Party government, which later renamed as DMK and  breakaway group named AIADMK, presently having its government in Tamilnadu.

However no effort was made to recognize the rights of minorities in British India till 1917.  Sensing troubles  in First World war ( 1914-18) the British Government declared in the House of Commons on august 20, 1917, “Policy of gradual Development of self governing institutions with a view to progressive realization of responsible Government in India as an integral part of British Empire”. Montague then came to India to study the different shades of political opinion, all sorts of interests, & demands. All political organizations including representatives of untouchables (Depressed classes) placed their grievances before him in November 1917. Depressed classes demanded among other things right for untouchables to elect their own representatives to the legislatures in proportion to their population. The Act of 1919, based on Montague –Chelmsford Report, clearly recognized the existence of untouchables & their problem for the representation in legislatures and recommended nomination on 7 seats for depressed caste candidates. Dr. Ambedkar also appeared before this committee as, by then, he had grown deep roots in Indian politics by organizing large number of meeting to safe guard interests of depressed Classes & to seek share in political power in free India.

           The Government of India recognized “They (Untouchables) are 1/5 of the total population of & have not been represented in the Morley – Minto committee” -The government also recommended enhancing nomination of Depressed Classes from 07 to 14 seats.” It also announced the appointment of the Indian Statutory Commission  better known as SIMON COMMISSION, after John Simon its chairman. It visited India twice.  But Congress party decided to boycott Simon Commission and so greeted it with black flags & abuses on it s first arrival at Bombay on Feb.3, 1928 & II visit in winter of 1928-29 Dr. Ambedkar was selected on Bombay Provincial committee by the Bombay Legislative Council, to appear before Simon Commission. Out of 18 depressed classes Associations 16 pleaded for separate electorates for Depressed Classes. Dr. Ambedkar appeared before the commission, on October 23, 1928, on behalf of Bahashkrit Hitkarini Sabha & he pleaded for joint electorates with reservation of seats for Depressed Classes. He opposed the principle of nomination (Act of 1919) & demanded a place in cabinet for the depressed classes besides education of depressed classes as a first charge to Government Revenue, right of recruitment in Army, Navy, Police & all other Govt Departments services. As then even  the entry of the Depressed classes people were banned in Armed forces, police and paramilitary forces Dr. Ambedkar demanded  that the depressed Classes needed  greater political protection than any other  minority in British India as they are more educationally, economically & socially  backward  & suffer  from many politically disabilities .           

            The Simon Commission recommended 60 % of seats (150 out of 250 seats) in central legislature to Hindus including reservation for Depressed Classes out of Hindu quota of seats. But an amicable solution of sharing political power in free India could not be settled by different parties, even after deliberations in two Round Table Conferences, which Dr. Ambedkar also attended as representative of Depressed Classes and demanded equal rights for the depressed classes peoples including respectable means to earn their livelihood.

       So to settle communal question The British Govt. Announced on 17 August 1932, which was better known as Communal Award declaring “Members of depressed classes qualified to vote, will vote in a general constituency besides voting separately to elect their representatives on Reserved seats. In view of the fact that for a considerable period, these classes would be unlikely, by this mean alone, to secure any adequate representation in legislature, a number of special seats will be assigned to them ( A table was drawn to specify no of such seats ). These seats will be filled by election from special constituencies in which only members of the Depressed Classes electro- rally qualified will be entitled to vote. Any person voting in such a special constituency will, as stated above, be entitled to vote in the general constituency also. But Mahatma Gandhi , Congress Party & Caste Hindus were totally opposed to give such a right to Depressed Classes.  However Gandhi Ji  and party  did not oppose rights for Muslim ,  Sikh  Europeans & Christians  ,as Gandhi Ji had already acceded  14 demands of Muslims in  “Gandhi – Muslim Accord  of 6^th October 1931 .” Gandhi was not prepared to give any right to untouchable which could establish their separate identity. Gandhi Ji supported caste system but said “Let the Hindus have an opportunity to expiate their sins and purify Hinduism.” It is not in the interests of the masters to free their subjects”.

     Against all persuasions, explanations, clarifications, requests &deputations Gandhi Ji decided to go on Fast unto Death on 20^th September 1932, in Yaravada Central Prison Poona, where he was lodged, to get nullified what the untouchables had got through Communal Award.   Gandhi said “Withdraw these safe guards or else, he will end his life.’’(Gandhi Ji is reported to have undertaken 21 fasts during his life time but none for the cause of Dalits) The British Prime Minister had categorically  refused to consider unilaterally, any alternation in Communal Award or withdraw it of its own, but was ready to substitute for it a formula that may be agreed upon by the caste Hindus & untouchables.  Gandhi’s life was in the hands of Dr. Ambedkar, who responded to the call of humanity against his consciousness by agreeing to sign Poona Pact, hammered out to save Gandhi’s life. Dr.Ambedkar was under great mental stress as upper caste Hindu organisations had started  burning hutments of scattered unarmed Depressed Castes rural masses. Many Dalits were attacked by lethal weapons as well. Certain safe guards and privileges were agreed for the Depressed Classes. Signing of Poona Pact cut the tongue of the Dalit leaders and their majority does not bother to speak forcefully for their kith & kins, as they think their future lies in the hands of party bosses who are from upper castes.

               Constitution Provisions:- These privileges and safe guards were enshrined in the Constitution Of Free  India in the form of Articles 17 ( Abolition Of Untouchability),16.16(4, 4A )(  Reservation In appointments, promotions), 332 (Reservation of seats for SC’s& St’s in State Legislative Assemblies), 335 (Claims of SC’S & ST’S to services & posts, 340 (Appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of the backward classes to take steps to improve their conditions . This provision called for appointment of Mandal and  Kaka Kalerkar Commissions.  whose recommendations formed basis of 27% Reservation for OBC’s ). Despite all these provisions establishing of a free society in India is yet a distance dream even after over six decades of independence. The constitution Of India  grantees to all its citizens  equality before law, equal opportunities for education, social & economic upliftment In respect  of Dalits These are  basic rights & not alms and this fact is  yet to be under stood & given practical shape. The phasing to attain the desired goal was through Reservation as granted by the Constitution but  instead of quick  implementation of the provisions to attain equality in the society these provisions has been deliberately failed by  upper castes , which are controlling entire show of the Government Of India including the private sector.

        Benefits for Minorities Scuttled:- The merit of upper castes has been deliberately used for disadvantage to the Dalits. If lapses in running the affairs of Govt of India in the last 65 years is any indication the falsified merit of upper castes particularly Brahmins gets vindicated. Despite existing all laws & rules for   recruitment in Govt services of Dalits, their share in services has remained nominal. Hence  Dalit  contribution in spoiling the soup is only an exploitation by the vested interests.

Government Department Services.

There are 10 --14 % Sc employees against required 15 % in Govt services of AP, MP, UP, TN, Karnataka, Gujarat etc, But the share of ST is only 2% against 7.5 % In 1999, there were 481 judges in the high court’s of India with 15( 3 %) from Dalits, but no f Dalits in 21 judges of Supreme court of India. In 1995 Dalit participation in All India Government services was just  10-11%. In 2004 in IAS & Allied services the participation of Dalits was 10 to 12 % ST __ %. There is no reservation in Media, Defence & Higher Scientific Services, Judiciary, Export Imports, Business & many other services.

 Position of Sc and ST in the Central Govt. Services as  on March 2011:-

(According to a reply given by the MoS in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy  also his  reply in the Lok Sabha by Narayanasamy in 2011 . )

          At the very top level of the government bureaucracy, out of a total of 149 secretary-level officers, there were no SC officers while there were only 4 ST officers, as of March 2011, At the next rung of additional secretary, out of 108 officers , there are just two each from SC and ST. Further down, out of 477 joint secretaries , 31 belong to SC, that is, 6.5% and 15 belong to ST that is 3.1%. And out of 590 directors, 17 belong to SC (2.9%) while seven belong to ST (1.2%). There is no reservation for these posts but one would expect that out of the pool of officers from SC and ST entering the civil services through quota — 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST and 27% for OBC — a better proportion would have made it to these top rungs by now.

Actually, even in the most sought after civil services, IAS, IPS and IFS, the proportion of SC, ST and OBC officers was below the mandated quotas. Out of 3,251 directly recruited IAS officers, SC officers made up 13.9%, ST officers 7.3% and OBCs just 12.9%. Clearly, the underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full advantage of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution makers. This is further confirmed by the huge number of vacancies in government positions reserved for SCs and STs. This is causing unrest in the Dalit masses.
According to a statement given in the LS in November last year by Narayanasamy, there were 25,037 'backlog' posts for SC lying vacant in 73 government departments and bodies. These are positions reserved for SC members that have not been filled over the years and thus have accumulated. They include both direct recruitment and promotion-based positions. Out of these, 4,518 positions were vacant because no candidate was available for promotion. Similarly for ST, 28,173 'backlog' posts were vacant, of which 7,416 were meant for filling up by promotion.

If you look at all central government employees, 17%( Secy. level 0%) of them were SC while 2.796% to 1.2% were ST .This appears to be fulfilling the mandated norms of 15% SC and 7.5% ST. But there is a catch. There is a deep skew of SC/ST members in the hierarchy of central government jobs — as you move up the ladder, there are less and less employees /officers from SC/ST. Among Group A officers, only 11.1% were SC and 4.6% ST. In Group B, the shares were 14.3% and 5.5%, respectively. In group C, there were 16% SC and 7.8% ST, slightly more than the quota . And in Group D, there were 19.3% SC and 7% ST.

This high proportion of SC in Group D is because nearly 40% of "safai karamcharies" are SC. This pushes up the proportions all round. Actually it only denotes the harsh reality that despite all the talk of ending discrimination and socio-economic upliftment, Dalits are still forced to do most menial jobs. Manual carrying of human excreta is still prevalent in many areas.

The following table makes the things very clear( Excl.Safai karamcharies).

                                    

As per information received from various Ministries/ Departments, the representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in posts and services of the Central Government as on 1.1.2011 is as under:-

Group	SCs		STs		OBCs
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
A	8922	11.5	3732	4.8	5357	6.9
B	28403	14.9	11357	6.0	13897	7.3
C	370557	16.4	174562	7.7	346433	15.3
(erstwhile) D	110515	23.0	32791	6.8	81468	17.0

(e): A Special Recruitment Drive to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies of SCs, STs and OBCs in services of the Central Government was launched on 19th November, 2008 to fill up all backlogvacancies existing as on 1.11.2008. The drive was extended upto 30.6.2011. The progress of the drive was reviewed on 1st July, 2011 and it was decided to re-launch the drive so as to fill up the remaining identified backlog vacancies by 31.03.2012. As reported by the Ministries/Departments so far, the backlog vis-à-vis filled up vacancies of SCs, STs and OBCs is given in the following table:

Category	Backlog-vacancies	Filled-up
SCs	24779	16693
STs	30010	15813
OBCs	22886	12950

Source: Rajya Sabha Questions and Answers

This shows that the Central government is not serious in implementing the Reservation Rules as per the Constitution provision. All acts done by individuals or governments against the Constitutional norms is  un-lawful ,not good for the health of  India .It is deliberate denial of Human Rights. Dr. Ambedkar warned long back that governments crossing Constitutional limits  can be reasons to create  chaos in the country  which in turn  may not hold the country united for long.

Words:2995                                           By  Er. H. R. Phonsa ( Jammu)

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